Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalhuhopi 21’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Docalhuhopi 21’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large flowers with purplish pink-colored petals with large dark red-colored centers; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa parviflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOCALHUHOPI 21’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa parviflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Docalhuhopi 21’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and early-flowering Calibrachoa plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2018 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA17-089063-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number AA17-105041-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2021.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2021 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Docalhuhopi 21’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Docalhuhopi 21’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large flowers with purplish pink-colored petals with large         dark red-colored centers.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have purplish pink-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers whereas plants of the female parent selection have dark pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Calibrachoa have purplish pink-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers whereas plants of the male parent selection have darker pink-colored flowers with smaller red-colored centers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL08501’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,503. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCAL08501’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as vigorous as plants         of ‘USCAL08501’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger and darker         green-colored leaves than plants of ‘USCAL08501’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘USCAL08501’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants         of ‘USCAL08501’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have purplish pink-colored         flowers with dark red-colored centers whereas plants of         ‘USCAL08501’ have dark red-colored flowers with dark         purple-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Docalhuhopi 21’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Docalhuhopi 21’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring and early summer in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs were taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa parviflora ‘Docalhuhopi 21’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number             AA17-089063-002, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa parviflora identified as code number             AA17-105041-001, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading to trailing and             decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit with about six             primary lateral branches each with about seven secondary             lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances             branching; dense and full appearance; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 24             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 26.5             cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread of plant).—About 65 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 38 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after             flowering, opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 145A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 143C. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 408 flowers and flower buds developing per plant;             flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about six             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Rippled;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 68A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.1 cm by 3.4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.1 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 61C; center,             close to 53A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to             63C. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 58D;             center, close to 53A; venation, close to 164A; color             becoming closer to 52D with subsequent development. Petal,             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 62A; venation, close             to 152B; color becoming closer to 51D with subsequent             development. Throat: Close to 9A; venation, close to 151A.             Tube: Close to 151C; venation, close to 144C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 7.5 mm. Sepal             width: About 2.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color: When developing             and fully developed, upper surface: Close to 141B. When             developing and fully developed, lower surface: Close to             143B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stein axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close             to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 9 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C.             Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther             color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 13B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color:             Close to 144C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144B. Ovary color: Close             to 144C. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About 260 per             plant. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 164C. Seeds: Quantity per             flower: About 32. Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain,     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Docalhuhopi 21’ as illustrated and described. 